And Aron. One of the few remaining elders. If he had their blessing, then Wren’s was truly a hollow power in the city. She thought back to the conversation with her son in the courtyard, just a few days before. The idea of leaving the city had seemed like a fantasy then. How quickly life could change.
“We can’t just leave. Wren most of all,” Cass said. “If he disappeared, there would be utter chaos.”
“Not if we conceal it. Security has already been tightened. We will simply spread word that the Governor must remain within the compound for his safety. No one need know otherwise.”
Cass tried to think it through, though her mind was fogged with fatigue and stress. A week, maybe two. Just long enough to get clear of the immediate danger. So much would need to be rebuilt over the coming months, but North was right. Ensuring Wren’s physical safety was their highest priority, and there was nowhere inside these walls they could trust for any length of time.
North leaned forward and touched Cass’s hand. “I do not mean exile, Lady. Only a temporary retreat, until we can be certain of your safety again.”
“Gamble,” Cass called. “What do you think?”
Gamble hopped off her table and approached. She didn’t sit at the table though, just leaned over it, with both hands on the back of a chair. “I think getting you out of the city is the smartest thing to do for you and your son. That’s my one and only concern. All the rest of it, I can’t say.”
“It might not be a great plan,” North said. “It might not even be a very good one. But I fear if we wait for a better one, it will then be too late.”
“It’s not really a plan, sir,” Gamble said. “But I agree. I think we move you to a secure location, and figure the rest out from there.”
“Gamble,” Cass said. “You do understand I’m not asking you to come with us?”
“Doesn’t matter if you ask us or not, ma’am,” Gamble said. “We’re coming.”
“Look, I appreciate the sentiment, but this isn’t what you signed up for.”
“Cass, what we signed up for was to do whatever it takes to keep you both safe. There’s not one of us that would let you walk out there on your own, whether you wanted us to or not.”
“We spent a lot of time out there on our own before we came here, Gamble.”
“And now you don’t have to.”
Cass didn’t know what to say. The circumstances were so far outside the boundaries of their professional duties, she couldn’t possibly expect them to stand by her side. But Gamble made it sound like she couldn’t expect anything less.
“Once you leave, you’ll have to assume we’re all traced,” North said.
“It’s alright, we’ve got Finn–” Gamble said, but cut herself off. She stood up straight, and Wick and Able both reacted in the same instant.
“What is it?” Cass asked.
“Alert just went out over wide broadcast,” Gamble explained. “They found the bodies.”
Swoop appeared from the back room a few seconds later, looking even more intense than usual.
“You want me back out front?” Wick asked.
“Stand by,” Swoop said.
“Do they know we’re gone?” Cass asked.
“Didn’t say, but we better get ahead of the curve on that,” Gamble answered. Then she added, “Finn, Gamble… need you to bounce a message…”
“Sir, you need to leave,” Swoop said to North.
“I don’t think we’re quite done–” North said.
“Right now.”
North looked at Cass, but there really wasn’t any question. Swoop didn’t stand on ceremony and he certainly wasn’t above throwing a Council member out in the street if he thought it was necessary. And even as big as North was, there wasn’t much doubt Swoop could do it. North got to his feet, and Cass stood at the same time.
Gamble was still talking to Finn. “Let the guard know that the governor and Lady Cass have been moved to a secure location… yeah, wide net but scattered, I don’t want anyone localizing it.”
“Good luck, Lady,” North said. “Give me three days, and then check in.”
“Thank you, North. Watch yourself.”
He bowed his head slightly, and then turned towards the front door.
“This way, sir,” Swoop said. “We’ll go out the back.”
North nodded and returned, and Swoop escorted him into the back room. Gamble waited until they’d left the room to start talking again. “City’s going into lockdown, no doubt about that,” Gamble said. “If we’re going to get you out of here, we need to do it soon.”
“How soon?” Cass asked.
“Wick?”
“Depends on where we’re headed.”
Gamble looked at Cass.
“I think Wren knows a place,” she said.
“Better go wake him then.”
Cass nodded and went upstairs to Painter’s room. She knocked softly on the door and then opened it and peeked in. Painter was sitting up on the floor, his eyes glowing back at her. Wren was snoring softly. Painter got to his feet and motioned her in.
“Sorry to wake you,” she whispered. “I need Wren.”
“Wasn’t asleep any, ennnn, anyway,” Painter whispered back.
Cass entered the room and sat down on the bed next to her son. He was asleep on his stomach, slightly sweaty, mouth open. She rubbed his back.
“Wren,” she said softly. His eyes floated open immediately, but otherwise he remained completely still. An old habit she had trained him in. “Baby, we need you downstairs.”
He sniffed and rubbed his eyes and then nodded sleepily. He sat up and stifled a yawn.
“Do you want me to carry you?” Cass asked.
He shook his head and got to his feet.
“Should I come tuh-too?” Painter asked.
“Yeah,” Cass answered. “I think you better.”
They all returned to the main room together. Gamble had gathered Swoop, Able, and Wick around her in conference.
“What’s going on?” Wren asked.
“We’re leaving,” Cass said.
“Back to the compound?”
“No, baby, we’re leaving the city.”
He looked up at her with his big sea-green eyes, still glassy with sleep. There was surprise on his face, but a little smile formed on his lips, one he tried to suppress.
“Where are we going?” he asked, and she could hear hope in the question.
“Somewhere safe,” Cass said. “Where no one will find us. Do you know a place like that?”
Wren let himself smile then, and nodded.
“Then we need you to tell Wick where it is.”
“I have it marked,” he said. “Should I just ping it to you?”
“No, hold on,” Wick said. And then he said, “Hey, Finn.” He waited a moment, and then said, “I need to pull a grid off the Governor. Can you hook him in secure…? Alright, check.” He looked back at Wren. “Finn’s going to patch you in to our secure comms channel. Just to be safe.”
Wren nodded and waited. A moment later his eyes lit up, and he said, “Yes, I hear you… OK… Just like normal, though…? OK.”
Wren looked at Wick, who nodded. “Got it. Thanks, Finn.” And then Wick’s eyes rolled up slightly, almost like he was looking at the ceiling, and his brow furrowed for several seconds. “Whew, looks like that’s all the way out on the edge of the Strand.”
“It is.”
“Not sure how safe that’s gonna be.”
“It’s safer than you’d think. I stayed there for a few weeks. Before I came here.”
“What do you think, Wick?” Gamble asked.